Opportunity MD renews local state of emergency

MD of Opportunity has been in a state of local emergency (SOLE) since fall 2023 for the Hamlet of Calling Lake, and since spring for its other villages due to crime issues. At its meeting on October 16, 2024, it renewed them for another two weeks.

At the previous meeting, it was mentioned that Bigstone Cree Nation, which has reservations near MD villages, also entered a local state of emergency for the same period for the same reasons.

Bigstone’s most recent public statement on this issue is a letter on its website dated August 29, 2024. It announced a three-month curfew for ATV use in all Bigstone communities from 9pm to 7am.

The letter says: “We are working closely with the RCMP to resolve these issues and improve security on Reserve A. As part of these efforts, RCMP night patrols will spend more time in the area to provide increased surveillance and support.”

In response to SOLE, MD is working to add a Community Peace Officer (CPO) program and doing a police study to defend an RCMP detachment in Calling Lake. Some steps were mentioned in the meeting related to both.

Police Study

Alberta Counsel is a lobbying group for lawyers. This group was scheduled to meet with MD advisors on October 21. The topic is a police study, which the MD hopes will show the need for an RCMP detachment in Calling Lake. After this meeting, community meetings are expected to be organized.

CPO

The proposed Community Peace Officer program could have up to four officers. At the beginning of November, the MD should have two trained officers. One has completed training and the other is scheduled to finish on November 8th.

A third officer was hired, CAO Chad Tullis said, but was injured during training and was not allowed to continue.

“Will the program be able to begin a few days after the officer’s training ends?” asked Rep. Reeve Brendan Powell of Red Earth Creek.

“We should be accredited soon,” Tullis replied.

This accreditation comes from the Attorney General of Alberta.

The request was sent to the Attorney General, the written report says. This includes standard operating procedures and a memorandum of understanding with the RCMP.

Two CPO trucks are in Edmonton to pick up the decals, the written report says.

Calling Lake Security

MD is providing security operations at Calling Lake, the written report says. Residents with training were hired for vacant positions. Additionally, Tri-West Security will continue to offer two full-time positions through December 2024.

The report included an update from the Athabasca RCMP on Calling Lake services.

This refers to “reducing crime through increased funding”. It lists seven patrols in August.

An OHV patrol on August 17 resulted in the arrest of a habitual offender who ranked 44th in this detachment. On August 23 and 24, officers carried out traffic stops, warrant checks and judicial conditions. The other patrols were “nothing remarkable.”

The report also notes that “during the quad patrol, a large number of people were spoken to and interacted with. This was a positive initiative and the public was happy to see us.”

Patrols were carried out by RCMP officers from Athabasca, Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, Vegreville and Innisfail.

Application

MD had 16 dogs in care (nine in Wabasca, six in Calling Lake and one in Red Earth Creek).

On Peerless Trout First Nation, the MD had a bounty on wolves. Only one was brought in for the $250 prize. This was out of a $5,000 budget.